The Warsaw Pact was created. Warsaw Pact
The history of the Bulgarian navy began during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Since then, the Bulgarian fleet has never captured stars from the sky. Somehow it turned out imperceptibly that its modern combat potential will be even slightly greater than that of the Ukrainian Navy - despite the fact that the population and economic capabilities of Bulgaria are much smaller than in our country.
Steam boat "Bird"
Photo: vimpel.boinaslava.net
The beginning - with Russian help
Bulgaria received its first warships immediately after the Russo-Turkish War and independence. According to the proposal of the commander of the Russian troops in Bulgaria, Prince Dondukov-Korsakov, several Russian steamships and boats were transferred to the Principality of Bulgaria. In July 1879, Prince Alexander signed a decree on the creation of the War Ministry, which included a naval department.
July 31, 1879 (old style) in the city of Ruse (then Ruschuk) on the steamships “Gorni Studen”, “Porodim”, “Experience”, “Explosion” and the boats “Motala”, “Raketa”, “Olafchik”, “ Farding and Bayern solemnly raised the Bulgarian flags. For the port administration in Varna, Russia transferred the schooner Kelasura, the boats Varna and Ptichka. This is how the Bulgarian Danube Flotilla began its history. All her ships were small merchant ships mobilized by Russia for the war with Turkey. The boats previously belonged to the Russian Baltic Fleet and were transported to the Danube along the railway. The boat “Ptichka” originally belonged to the most powerful Russian battleship “Peter the Great”.
The human core of the young Bulgarian flotilla on the Danube was Russian volunteers - 7 officers and 58 non-commissioned officers and sailors. Their service in Bulgaria was personally approved by Emperor Alexander II.
The first commander of the flotilla was captain-lieutenant of the Russian fleet Alexander Konkeyevich. Having organized a fleet and a service system, he also opened a Machine School in Ruse - the first technical university In Bulgaria. In 1883, Konkeyevich also ordered the princely yacht “Alexander I” from France. In the same 1883, Konkeyevich, with the rank of captain of the 2nd rank, was dismissed from service under the pretext of abuses, but in fact - for a number of critical articles in newspapers about the course of the Russian-Turkish war.
Princely yacht "Alexander I", 1890
Photo: vimpel.boinaslava.net
After a short period (only a month), when the flotilla was commanded by Russian lieutenant M.Ya. Bal, the next “commander in chief”, combining the positions of flotilla commander and princely yacht, became Zinoviy Petrovich Rozhestvensky, notorious in the history of the Russian fleet for the Tsushima defeat. But then he was a young officer, full of enthusiasm and a sip of combat experience - on the armed steamship Vesta. During Rozhdestvensky, two destroyers “Turtle” and “Bychok” were transferred from the Russian fleet to the Bulgarian flotilla; negotiations were also held on the transfer of larger warships for service in the Black Sea. In addition, Zinovy Rozhdestvensky created naval regulations and charters, founded a naval museum and library.
Zinovy Rozhdestvensky with the rank of lieutenant
Photo: tsushima.su
Serbo-Bulgarian conflict - the beginning of the independence of the Bulgarian fleet
After Bulgaria and the autonomous Turkish province of Eastern Rumelia united on September 6, 1885. This act caused a sharp protest from Austria-Hungary and complications in relations between Bulgaria and Russia, which have remained quite cold since then. Russia recalled all its military personnel, as a result of which there was not a single officer in the Bulgarian army or navy with a rank higher than captain.
The result of the crisis was a short war between Bulgaria and Serbia ( fighting lasted from November 14 to November 28, 1885), the reason for which was a border dispute over lands along the Timok River. In two battles, the Bulgarian army transferred operations to Serbian territory. But at the same time, the Serbs tried three times to storm the city of Vidin, defended by a weak Bulgarian garrison.
The destroyer "Bychok", later renamed "Hristo Botev" on the Danube
Photo: vimpel.boinaslava.net
On the Danube, the Bulgarian boat Motala captured two Serbian merchant ships. The flotilla helped defend Vidin, delivering ammunition and food to the besieged city.
Steam launch "Motala", renamed "Stefan Karadzha"
Photo: vimpel.boinaslava.net
After Austria-Hungary threatened to intervene if the Bulgarian army did not retreat, Russia also intervened. Despite the cooling of relations with Bulgaria, Russia was not interested in weakening it - and threatened the already Dual Monarchy with serious consequences. The final result of the war, in which less than one and a half thousand people died on both sides, was international recognition unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. And on a more global level, the Serbo-Bulgarian conflict destroyed the Alliance of the Three Emperors, which marked the beginning of a long confrontation between Russia and Austria-Hungary and Germany, which ended with the First World War.
Fleet construction - politics and corruption
Subsequently, the Bulgarian flotilla was gradually replenished with small steamships and boats. In 1897, the creation of Bulgarian naval forces on the Black Sea began - they organized Marine part and naval arsenal. In 1899, the flotilla on the Danube and the Marine unit were combined into Navy with headquarters in Varna.
The first large Bulgarian ship was built in France in 1897-98. torpedo gunboat Nadezhda, with a displacement of 717 tons, armed with two 100 mm guns, two 380 mm torpedo tubes and four small-caliber guns. Relative to the scale of the Bulgarian fleet, this gunboat was classified as a cruiser.
Gunboat – “cruiser” “Nadezhda”
Photo: tsushima.su
In 1906, the French yacht “De Romas” built in 1883, renamed “Kamchia”, was purchased for the Bulgarian fleet. A small ship with a displacement of 105 tons was converted into a minelayer in 1911, which could lay 12 mines.
Minelayer "Kamchia"
Photo: tsushima.su
The next major addition to the fleet were six destroyers of the standard “38-meter” type, also built in France in 1907-1908, but assembled in Varna. With a displacement of 97 tons, they could reach speeds of up to 26 knots and were armed with two 47-mm guns and three 450 mm torpedo tubes. The destroyers were named “Daring”, “Brave”, “Brave”, “Strict”, “Flying”, “Noisy”. However, despite the achieved standard speed, in practice it turned out that the destroyers real conditions gave a speed of only 22 knots, which was not enough for a torpedo attack on large ships.
"Daring" class destroyers
In 1912, Bulgaria became almost the only country in the world to create a combat catamaran. From two old boats “Raketa” and “Amalia” they built a double-hulled mine transport. In addition, in 1907, to protect Varna in France, three 17-ton pontoons were built, each of which had a torpedo tube. basis coastal artillery was a battery of two 240 mm guns at Varna.
Steam boat "Amalia"
Photo: vimpel.boinaslava.net
System plan coastal defense Varna before the First Balkan War, indicating the sectors of coastal artillery fire
Photo: tsushima.su
The bias of the Bulgarian fleet towards France is explained simply. The fleet was commanded by the Frenchman Paul Pichon, who lobbied for the interests of his country. All financing was carried out through loans from France, so a number of lucrative offers to purchase used warships in England and Germany or even the free transfer of old Russian ships did not materialize. There was no support from the navy public opinion. Thus, in December 1908, 51 deputies of the National Assembly voted for the proposal to completely liquidate the navy.
Officers of the very first crew of the cruiser Nadezhda, future fleet commander Paul Pichon sits in the center, Bordeaux, 1896
In Bulgaria itself there were several movements. The so-called “Russophobes” believed that the Bulgarian fleet did not need outdated Russian ships. They hoped that in the event of a conflict with Turkey, the Russian fleet would intervene, and in the event of a war with Russia, the Bulgarian fleet in any form would be immediately destroyed. The “French” party, led by Pichon, prevented all attempts to replenish the fleet with second-hand ships, since otherwise the Bulgarians would not have ordered ships from French shipyards. In addition, during the construction of ships in France, many corruption scandals were revealed, and plans for cooperation with Russia ran into the illusory possibility of creating a Russian naval base in Varna or Burgas, which the Bulgarian side could not agree to.
Destroyer "Bold", photo before the First World War
Photo: tsushima.su
Assembly of one of the “Daring” class destroyers in Varna
Photo: tsushima.su
The only person in the Bulgarian fleet who had real combat experience was Dimitar Dobrev. In 1904 he went to Kronstadt to study in artillery classes. But during Russo-Japanese War Dobrev, on his own initiative, was able to become an artillery officer on the cruiser "Dmitry Donskoy", went on it the entire route of the 2nd Pacific Squadron, Battle of Tsushima(under the command of the former commander of the Bulgarian fleet) and the death of the ship in last battle with Japanese cruisers near the island of Dazhelet.
Cruiser "Dmitry Donskoy", from a collection of postcards about the 2nd Pacific Squadron
Photo: tsushima.su
Captain Dimitar Dobrev
Photo: roguewarriorbg.com
Alexander Velmozhko
Bulgarian Navy Day is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of August and the occasion for this was the event on August 12, 1879, when four Russian warships " Experience», « Explosion», « Pordim" And " Gornij Studen", moored in the port of Rousse, under National anthem, the Bulgarian flag was raised. This solemn act marked the birth of the Bulgarian navy.
As a rule, the second Sunday in August is just the culmination of the celebration of Bulgarian Fleet Day. Essentially, the entire week preceding the holiday is filled with events one way or another connected with the sea and navy. That is why in Bulgaria people have long called this week the “Sea Festival”. At this time, the country hosts displays of warships, various exhibitions, and army bands give concerts.
The Sea Festival is celebrated both in Varna, Burgas, and in the Danube cities - Rousse, Vidin and Silistra. Traditionally, festive events begin in the city of Rousse with the laying of wreaths at the grave of a sailor, and end in the city of Varna, where a military ritual is held to solemnly raise flags on naval ships in the territory of the Seaport. As part of the celebration, a ritual of the military oath of the young conscript is held, and graduates Naval School receive their first officer rank.
Considering that most of the countries in the Black Sea basin, to a certain extent, have already passed the crisis period and have begun construction modern fleets, some maritime powers can still be recommended to look at the experience of the development of the Bulgarian fleet.
composition of the Bulgarian naval forces
Combat composition of the Bulgarian Navy submarine " Glory» project 633, frigate « Drazki"class" Wielingen", corvette " Dare"project 1159, corvettes" Flying», « Vigilant», « Fearless», « Brave"project 204, corvettes" Decisive», « Beaudry"project 1241.2, medium" Sirius" And " Antares» project 770, seven small landing ships project 106K, basic minesweepers " Breeze», « Squall», « Surf», « Storm"project 1265E, raid project 257D" Iskar», « Zibar», « Dobrotich», « Evstati Vinarov", four raid minesweepers of project 1258, six raid minesweepers of project 1259, two minesweepers of project 501, project 1241.1T "Molniya", missile boats of project 205E " Uragon», « Gramma», « Svetkavica», « Tornado», « Storm», « Typhoon».
corvette "Resitelni"
submarine "Slava" project 633
Project 1159 corvette "Smeli"
IN Bulgarian naval forces organizationally include two naval bases, a home base and other units and subdivisions. Divisions of patrol ships, minesweepers and auxiliary vessels are stationed in the Atia naval base (Burgas), and divisions of submarines, patrol ships, minesweepers and auxiliary vessels are based in Varna. Light forces of the Bulgarian Navy, consisting of two divisions missile boats, are based in the port of Sozopol.
Today, the construction of the Bulgarian naval forces is carried out in accordance with “ The plan for modernization and adoption of new weapons systems and military equipment for the period until 2015» approved by the Bulgarian government in May 2004. At the naval base of See-Bürge on October 21, 2005, the national naval ensign was raised on the frigate " Drazki" Replenishment of the ship's personnel is carried out not only through foreign military-technical assistance. Four new corvettes are being built at the Varna shipyard for the national fleet. In the near future, the Bulgarian navy will be replenished with other modern types weapons: an agreement has been reached with the French company " Eurocopter» on the purchase of six new ship-based helicopters; The Navy will also receive automotive equipment, radiation and chemical protection, surface and air surveillance systems. Among the eleven priority projects provided for in the plan for the rearmament and modernization of the national armed forces, is the purchase and construction of small warships of the "" class.
By the mid-1980s naval forces Bulgaria was built as an element of the security system of the Warsaw Pact organization on the Soviet model. Therefore, the composition is quite harmonious at first glance Bulgarian Navy has a significant drawback: most universal ships in the far and near sea zones do not have the same weapons. "Corvettes" of projects 204, 1159, 1241.2 of the Bulgarian Navy are nothing more than small anti-submarine ships Soviet built. In technical terms, these ships are not armed with shock weapons. missile complex, which narrows their functionality and makes it impossible to carry out a significant group of tasks assigned to ships of this type.
On May 14, 1955 in Warsaw, at a meeting of the heads of government of Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Poland, Romania, the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Albania1, a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed, which went down in history as the Warsaw Pact. It was designed for 20 years, and for those participants who did not declare its denunciation a year before the expiration of the term, the Treaty remained in force for another 10 years. In 1985, senior statesmen of the countries participating in the Warsaw Pact signed a protocol in Warsaw to extend the validity of the Treaty for another 20 years with the possibility of maintaining its force for the next 10 years.
The purpose of the Warsaw Pact was to take measures to ensure its security and maintain peace in Europe. In accordance with the UN Charter, the contracting parties were obliged to refrain from the threat of use of force and to resolve international disputes by peaceful means.
The highest political body of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) became the Political Consultative Committee (PAC). He considered general issues related to strengthening defense capabilities and the organization of the United Armed Forces (JAF), which formed the basis of the military organization of the Warsaw Department.
The Joint Command included the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, the Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces, and Deputy Commanders-in-Chief. The first Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces was Marshal of the Soviet Union I. S. Konev (1955-1960).
The contingent of troops and forces allocated by each country to the Allied Forces, in Peaceful time remained subordinate to their national commands, and their activities were regulated by the relevant laws, regulations and military regulations of their countries. At the beginning of the aggression, the allocated troops and forces were intended to conduct joint actions as part of coalition groups.
The Allied Forces headquarters was formed in May 1955. It initially consisted only of Soviet generals and officers and until 1969 formed a structural unit of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. The first Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces was Army General A.I. Antonov (1955-1962). In 1969, an independent Allied Forces Headquarters was created, which became the working body of the Committee of Defense Ministers (KMO) of the Allied Forces.
With the consent of the governments of the participating states of the Allied Forces, representatives of the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces were sent to the allied armies. Prominent Soviet military leaders were appointed to these positions, who provided assistance to the national commands in the training of troops (forces) allocated to the Allied Forces, and served as a link between the United and national commands.
With the expansion and deepening of cooperation between the allied countries, the structure of the ATS and JAF bodies was constantly being improved. On March 17, 1969, at a meeting of the PKK in Budapest, the Regulations on the Committee of Defense Ministers, the new Regulations on the United Armed Forces and the Unified Command, as well as the Regulations on the Military Council, an agreement on the organization of a unified air defense system and other documents were approved.
The KMO included the defense ministers of the allied states, the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces. It was an advisory body that developed recommendations and proposals on general military issues and submitted them to the PKK or the governments of the allied countries.
The new Regulations on the Joint Armed Forces reflect the political and military obligations of the allied states, the basic rights and responsibilities of national commands in relation to their troops (forces) allocated to the Allied Forces, as well as the basis for planning the operational use of troops.
In this regard, the role and composition of the Allied Forces Headquarters have increased significantly, and the range of tasks it solves has expanded. The headquarters of the Allied Forces began to be staffed by generals, admirals and officers allied armies according to the principle of proportional representation, which was more consistent with the new requirements.
To organize and manage the system air defense States parties to the Warsaw Pact were appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces for Air Defense - Commander of the Unified Air Defense System of the Warsaw Pact countries, Marshal of the Soviet Union P. F. Batitsky (1969-1978).
The Technical Committee of the Allied Forces began to operate, designed to solve problems related to the development and improvement of weapons and military equipment, their standardization and unification. The committee was composed of representatives from all allied armies. It was headed by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces for Armaments, Lieutenant General I.V. Stepanyuk (1969-1975).
To ensure wider participation of the leadership of the defense ministries of the participating states of the Allied Forces in the collective discussion of fundamental issues of development of the Allied Forces, a Military Council was established consisting of: the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, the Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces and the Deputy Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Forces from the allied armies, the commander Unified system Air defense, chief Technical Committee and Secretary of the Military Council.
Subsequently, the structure of the governing bodies of the Allied Forces did not change significantly and only by the decision of the PKK on November 23, 1978, the positions of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces were introduced: for the Air Force - Colonel General of Aviation A. N. Katrich (1978-1986), for the Navy - Admiral V. V. Mikhailin (1978-1983). Thus, OBC began to include not only ground troops and air defense troops, but also air Force, navies.
Eastern European countries allied with the USSR had armies that had both common features and originality due to the specifics of national military development.
Bulgarian People's Army. The construction of the Bulgarian People's Army (BPA) was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the national military doctrine. The BNA included: ground forces; air defense and air force troops; Navy. Bulgaria also had border, construction and railway troops.
The recruitment of the BNA was carried out in accordance with the law on universal military service, according to which all citizens of the country who had reached 18 years of age and were fit for health reasons were called up for active military service for a period of 2 years.
Officer cadres for the BNA were trained in military educational institutions. Junior command staff for all branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military were trained by sergeant secondary schools, and reserve officers were trained by a special school.
Hungarian People's Army (Hungarian Defense Forces). The Hungarian People's Army (HPA) consisted of the country's Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense Forces. Military service extended to all male citizens of the Hungarian People's Republic between the ages of 18 and 55. The duration of active military service was 18 months. The term of military service for officers and generals is up to 60 years.
The VNA personnel were divided into privates, sergeants, sub-officers, warrant officers, officers and generals. Sergeants, as a rule, were trained from conscripts in the training units of units, and upon completion of service they were given the right to enter into an agreement for additional conscript service. The sub-officers were composed of persons who had chosen military service as their profession and had completed special training at training bases of types and branches of troops. The officer corps was trained at the highest combined arms, engineering and aviation schools. Officers of all branches of the military improved their knowledge at the Miklos Zrinyi Military Academy.
National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic. The National People's Army (NPA) included 3 types of armed forces: ground forces, air force and air defense forces, and the people's navy. They, in turn, were divided into types of troops, special troops and services.
Universal conscription applied to all citizens of the republic - men aged 18 to 50 years. During mobilization and war time Women aged 18 to 50 could also be called up for service.
NPA military personnel were divided into categories: conscript military servicemen; soldiers, non-commissioned officers of long-term service and officers who served in the army under contract; career non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and officers.
Future officers were educated at higher military schools. The main military educational institution of the GDR was the Friedrich Engels Military Academy in Dresden. A significant part of the NPA officers studied in Soviet military educational institutions.
Polish Army. The Polish Army included: ground forces; the country's air force and air defense troops; Navy. The territory of the country was divided into 3 military districts: Pomeranian, Śląski and Warsaw.
According to the General Defense Duty Law of 1967, Polish citizens who had reached the age of 19 were conscripted for 2 years. The Polish Army had highly qualified military personnel.
To the number staffing The army included: sergeants (sub-officers); cornets (ensigns); officers; generals. The personnel of the Navy was divided into junior and senior sub-officers, Navy cornets, Navy officers and admirals.
Officers of the Polish Army were trained in 4 military academies, 8 higher officer schools with a 4-year course of study and centers for the training and development of military personnel, and sub-officers - in professional sub-officer schools for the types of armed forces and branches of the military. Some Polish Army officers were trained in military educational institutions Soviet Union, GDR, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.
Army of Romania. The Romanian Armed Forces were the basis of the national defense system of the state. Subordinate to the Ministry of National Defense were: ground forces; country's air defense troops; Air Force; Navy.
The army personnel were divided into conscripts; military personnel with a shortened service life; permanent personnel, which included: corps of officers, military masters, sub-officers, as well as army employees, cadets of military schools.
Czechoslovak People's Army (CHNA). It consisted of the country's ground forces, air force and air defense forces. The territory of the country in military-administrative terms was divided into 2 military districts - Western and Eastern.
The CHNA was staffed in accordance with the law on universal conscription adopted in the country. The procedure for serving was basically the same as in other armies ATS countries. University students were called up for military service after graduation.
Officers for command, technical and logistical positions were trained in military academies and higher military schools. The corps of warrant officers was staffed by military personnel who graduated from secondary military schools or special courses, as well as conscripts and reserves with general secondary education.
Within the framework of ATS, coordinated planning was carried out for the development of the armed forces of the participating countries, and joint exercises and maneuvers were conducted. The military community of the socialist countries was not without problems. In 1956 Soviet troops, stationed in Hungary and brought in from border military districts, participated in the suppression in Budapest and other cities of the country of an armed uprising of pro-Western population groups dissatisfied with the policies of the ruling Hungarian Workers' Party. In 1968, a political crisis broke out in Czechoslovakia, to overcome which troops from other countries participating in the Warsaw Pact (USSR, Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany and Poland) were brought into the country.
In connection with what happened at the turn of the 90s. XX century profound changes in the USSR and Eastern Europe, the member states of the Warsaw Pact, during the Moscow meeting of the PKK on June 7, 1990, decided to abolish the military bodies and structures of the Internal Affairs Directorate by March 31, 1991. An extraordinary and last meeting of the ATS PCC was held in Budapest on February 25, 1991, at which the Protocol on the termination of military agreements concluded within the framework of the Warsaw Warsaw Forces and the abolition of its military structures from March 31, 1991 was unanimously adopted and signed.
An international agreement, in accordance with the decisions of which a military bloc of European socialist states was created, led by the USSR.
After the creation of NATO (April 4, 1949), agreements on military cooperation were concluded between the USSR and a number of socialist countries. The first friendship treaty was signed during the Second World War: on December 12, 1943 with the Czechoslovak government in exile. In 1943-1949, 23 bilateral agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed between the countries of Eastern Europe.
However, the USSR refrained from further steps until the German regiment was formally involved in the military bloc. On October 23, 1954, members of the military Brussels Pact (France, Great Britain, Benelux countries) and Italy signed the Paris Agreement with Germany, which effectively proclaimed the remilitarization of West Germany and its eventual accession to NATO. The USSR took a number of diplomatic measures in an attempt to prevent such a development. At the meeting held in Moscow on November 29 - December 2, 1954. The Security Conference of representatives of 8 socialist countries adopted the Moscow Declaration, in which they warned that if the Paris Agreement was ratified, they would take steps to create a new military bloc. NATO countries ratified the Paris Agreement, which entered into force on May 5, 1955.
On May 11-14, 1955, a meeting was held in Warsaw European countries to ensure peace and security in Europe. On the last day of his work (May 14, 1955), the heads of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Socialist Republic Romania (RRR), People's Republic Bulgaria (PRB), the Polish People's Republic (PPR), the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR), the Hungarian People's Republic (HPR) and the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (NSRA) signed a treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. Representing the People's Republic of China (PRC), Minister of Defense and Deputy Premier of the State Council Peng Dehuai participated in the conference as an observer.
Provisions of the Warsaw Pact
The text of the treaty consisted of a preamble and 11 articles. The participants stated that “the situation that has created in Europe as a result of the ratification of the Paris agreements providing for the formation of a new military group in the form of a “Western European Union” with the participation of a remilitarized West Germany and its inclusion in the North Atlantic bloc, which increases the danger of a new war and creates a threat national security peace-loving states." In accordance with the UN Charter, the contracting Parties have undertaken to “abstain from their international relations from the threat or use of force and to resolve their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner as not to jeopardize international peace and security” (Article 1). At the same time, they decided to “consult among themselves on all important international issues..., guided by the interests of strengthening international peace and security" (Article 3). The most important was the 4th article of the treaty, which stated that “In the event of an armed attack in Europe on one or more states party to the Treaty by any state or group of states, each state party to the Treaty ... will render assistance to the state or states subjected to such attack , immediate assistance... by all means that seem necessary to him, including the use of armed force.” Finally, the participating countries pledged “not to take part in any coalitions or alliances and not to enter into any agreements the purposes of which are contrary to the purposes of this Treaty” (Article 7).
The agreement was concluded for a period of 20 years and, after the transfer of all instruments of ratification (in the USSR, the agreement was ratified by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 25, 1955) for storage by the government of the People's Republic of Poland (June 1, 1955), it came into force on June 5, 1955. At the same time, the GDR initially joined the Warsaw Pact only in politically, V military unit It entered into the treaty only on January 28, 1956, 10 days after the signing of the law on the creation of the National People's Army. In 1975, the contract was automatically extended for 10 years, because There have been no statements of denunciation from participating countries. As the expiration date of the treaty approached, on April 26, 1985, its participants extended its validity for another 20 years (i.e., until May 14, 2005).
Warsaw Pact Organization (WTO)
To develop a common military strategy, coordinate actions and exercise leadership of the Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact countries, according to the terms of the treaty (Articles 5 and 6), Political advisory committee (PKK) and the Unified Command of the Armed Forces (UCAF). It included leaders of communist parties, heads of state, heads of government and foreign ministers. PKK was the highest collective body The Department of Internal Affairs met to consider fundamental issues related to the implementation of the provisions of the Warsaw Pact, as well as to discuss measures to strengthen and improve the Department of Internal Affairs. The bodies of the PAC were: the Committee of Foreign Ministers and the joint Secretariat, established in 1976. Secretary General The PAC was simultaneously the head of the Joint Secretariat, which was executive body PKK and consisted of standing commissions on various issues.
PAC meetings were held alternately in the capitals of the participating countries. The first meeting of the PAC took place on January 27-28, 1956 in Prague; Representatives of the Mongolian People's Republic took part in it as observers. In addition to meetings of the PAC, conferences of the foreign ministers of the Warsaw Pact member states were also held regularly; the first such conference took place in Warsaw on April 27-28, 1959 (representatives of the PRC took part in it as observers).
In addition to discussing issues, declarations were also adopted on the most important issues related to ensuring peace and security in Europe.
Unified Command of the Armed Forces was created to ensure interaction between armed forces and strengthen the defense capabilities of countries participating in the Warsaw Pact. The OKVS was headed by the commander-in-chief (always a representative of the USSR Armed Forces) and with him a headquarters, which was also headed by a representative of the USSR, although it also included generals, admirals and officers of all allied armies of the Warsaw Pact countries. OKVS was located in Moscow. Afterwards, the leadership of the USSR decided to expand the rights of its partners. In 1869, the Committee of Defense Ministers was created - a coordination center on military issues, which also included the commander-in-chief and chief of staff of the Department of Internal Affairs. The Committee formed the Military Council of the OKVS from deputy ministers of defense, which held regular meetings on issues of increasing the combat capability of the armed forces, as well as the Technical Committee.
Commanders-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces (UAF): Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev (05/14/1955-07/23/1960); Marshal of the Soviet Union A.A. Grechko (07/24/1960-04/12/1967); Marshal of the Soviet Union I.I. Yakubovsky (04/12/1967-11/30/1976); Marshal of the Soviet Union V.G. Kulikov (01.12.1976-14.02.1989); Army General P.G. Lushev (02/15/1989-03/31/1991)
Chiefs of Staff of the United Armed Forces (JAF): Army General A.I. Antonov (05/14/1955-06/16/1962); Army General P.I. Batov (06/17/1962-1965); Army General M.I. Kazakov (1965-1968); Army General S.M. Shtemenko (08.1968-04.1976); Army General A.I. Gribkov (1976-1989); Army General V.N. Lobov (02.1989-1990)
At the time of its heyday (1985), the number of Allied Forces was 7,562,987 military personnel; after 5 years (by 1990) it decreased to 6,960,700 people. According to a number of estimates, the tank fleet of the ATS armies amounted to 53 thousand Soviet tanks and about 12-15 thousand tanks from other countries.
The most important component of the activities of the Joint Forces was the conduct of joint command and staff and military exercises and maneuvers, at which the interaction of the Armed Forces of the participating countries was practiced. They were mainly carried out in Eastern European countries. The largest were the “Brotherhood in Arms of the Fraternal Countries of the Socialist Commonwealth” maneuvers, which took place on October 12-18, 1970, as well as the “Brotherhood in Arms” maneuvers in August-September 1980, in which about 40 thousand people took part. Other major maneuvers were: Soviet-Bulgarian exercises (July 1958), “Quartet” (1963), “October assault” (1965), “Vltava” (September 1966), “Rhodope-67” (August 1967 ), “Odra ‒ Nissa” (September 1969), “Dnepr” (September 1967), “North” (1968), “Val-77” (summer 1977), “Zapad-77” (May-June 1977), “Shield-79” (May 1979), “Soyuz-81” (March 1981), “Zapad-81” (September 1981), “Friendship-82” (January 1982), “Shield -82" (September 1982), "Friendship-83" (March 1983), "Shield-83" (summer 1983), "Friendship-84" (February-March 1984), "Summer-84" ( May-June 1984), “Shield-84” (September 1984), “Friendship-85” (September 1985).
The only joint military operation of the Armed Forces of the Department of Internal Affairs was the suppression of the Prague Uprising in August 1968, when military contingents of the USSR, Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria were introduced into the territory of Czechoslovakia.
Dissolution of the Department of Internal Affairs
During the Hungarian events of 1956, the head of the government of the Hungarian People's Republic, Imre Nagy, on November 1, 1956, declared Hungary's neutrality and its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, but on November 4, Soviet troops were brought into Hungary and the uprising was quickly suppressed, and Nagy's statement had no consequences.
On September 3, 1968, during the Czechoslovak crisis, Albania withdrew from the Warsaw Pact (in fact, Albania no longer took part in any activities under the Warsaw Pact since February 1, 1962, after the severance of relations with the USSR).
On September 24, 1990, after the unification of East and West Germany in Berlin, the Minister of Armament and Defense of the GDR, Rainer Eppelmann, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Department of Internal Affairs, Army General P.G. Lushev signed a protocol on the withdrawal of the National People's Army from military organization Warsaw Pact. At this point the crisis socialist system was already so deep that it was clear to everyone that the days of the Department of Internal Affairs were numbered. Events became irreversible. Already on February 25, 1991, the states participating in the Warsaw Warsaw Forces decided to liquidate its military structures from March 31 of the same year. On July 1, 1991, representatives of the countries participating in the Warsaw Pact at a meeting in Prague signed a Protocol on the complete termination of the Treaty “taking into account the profound changes taking place in Europe, which mean the end of confrontation and division of the continent” (it was signed on behalf of the USSR by Vice President G .I. Yanaev).
In the first post-war decade, a bilateral system of international relations was established in the world. This is the time when the global confrontation between two superpowers began - the United States of America and the Soviet Union, as well as the confrontation between two military-political organizations - the North Atlantic Alliance and the Warsaw Pact.
The Warsaw Pact was signed in Eastern European countries. This happened in 1955. Its main task was to exercise control over these states, as well as to ensure security and peace in Europe. According to the Treaty, it was intended to provide assistance to the participating countries in the event of a military threat, conduct mutual consultations in crisis situations and form a Unified Command of the Armed Forces.
The Warsaw Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed by Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, East Germany, Romania, Czechoslovakia and the USSR 6 years after the formation of NATO. It should be noted that cooperation between these states existed long before the signing of the document. The fact is that in most of them, after the end of the war, a communist system of government was established, which was largely facilitated by Soviet troops remaining in Eastern Europe. And until the signing of the agreement, all relations between them were carried out on the basis of agreements of friendship and cooperation. In 1949, the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance was formed, which initially included Bulgaria, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later other countries.
At the same time, after 1953, in some of the countries of Eastern Europe there were signs of mass discontent caused by the controversial policies of the USSR. Thus, mass demonstrations and strikes took place in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. And in the GDR they were so numerous that the Soviet leadership was forced to introduce tanks to suppress the protests of workers dissatisfied with the deteriorating standard of living. When I. Stalin died in 1953 and new leaders came to power, they undertook a number of trips to the countries of the socialist camp. Their result was the signing of the Warsaw Pact. It included almost all Eastern European states, with the exception of Yugoslavia, which adhered to neutrality. Signing of this document was caused primarily by the emergence of military threats as a result of ratification Paris Agreements 1954, which involved the creation Western European Union and the accession of West Germany to the North Atlantic Alliance.
The signing of the above document formalized the creation of the Warsaw Pact Organization, a military-political organization of socialist European states. Its creation became a kind of response to the formation of NATO, which was aimed against the socialist camp.
The goals of the Warsaw Pact included ensuring the security of the participating countries. It consisted of a preamble and eleven articles. According to its terms and the Charter of the United Nations, all signatory states were obliged to refuse or abstain from international politics from threats or direct application forces, and in the event of an armed conflict - to provide assistance by all available means.
Also, the participating countries were obliged to act in order to strengthen cooperation and friendly relations for further development cultural and economic relationships, while respecting national sovereignty and not interfering with domestic policy each other. But it should also be noted that membership in the Organization was not always voluntary, and rare attempts to leave it were harshly suppressed (for example, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland).
Was created and supreme body Warsaw Pact Organization - Political Consultative Committee, whose main tasks included conducting consultations on controversial issues that arose as part of the implementation of the Treaty.
But the activities of the Department of Internal Affairs were very controversial and not always successful. It is important to recall that in its confrontation with NATO there were two major crises that almost became the cause of the Third World War: the Berlin and Caribbean crises.
The cause of the Berlin crisis of 1959-1962 was the mass relocation of East German residents to West Berlin. To put an end to unauthorized relocation, the famous Berlin Wall was built overnight, with checkpoints installed. But such actions caused even greater discontent among the population; huge crowds of those who wanted to leave the borders of Soviet Berlin gathered near the checkpoint. This led to the concentration of Soviet and American tanks. As a result, the confrontation between the two states ended with the Soviet authorities being forced to withdraw their tanks from these positions.
Another crisis situation arose in 1962 in the zone Caribbean, putting the world at risk nuclear war. It all started with the Americans placing their missile base on the territory of Turkey. The Soviet Union could not leave this unanswered, so they secretly placed their missiles on the island of Cuba. When this became known in the United States of America, real panic began there, since the actions of the Soviet leadership were perceived as the beginning of preparations for war. Fortunately, it didn’t end so badly: Soviet troops withdrew their missiles from Cuba, the Americans liquidated their base in Turkey and pledged not to take any action against Cuba.
In addition to these conflicts, there were many other crisis situations within the Organization itself. The main reason for them was the desire of some countries to better life and the desire to free themselves from the influence of the Soviet Union. Such crises include the uprising in Hungary, which occurred in 1956 (Operation Whirlwind), attempts to carry out reforms in Czechoslovakia in 1968 (Prague Spring, Operation Danube). All of them were solved with the help of Soviet tanks.
We should not forget about the war in Afghanistan of 1979-1989. In 1979, as a result of a military coup, a new leadership came to power there, which had the intention of building a model of a socialist state, taking the USSR as a model. This policy caused discontent among the population, as a result of which Afghan President Amin was forced to turn to the Soviet Union for help. What happened next is known to everyone. The introduction of a limited Soviet contingent into Afghan territory, which was only supposed to keep the situation under control. The result was a 10-year war and international isolation of the Soviet Union.
In 1985, due to the expiration of the Warsaw Pact, it was extended for 20 years.
When perestroika began in the USSR, changes occurred in the entire foreign policy of the country. The Soviet leadership did not interfere with the “velvet” revolutions in Eastern European countries in 1989-1990. In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and a year later the two Germanys were united into a single state. For the Union, this meant the loss of a faithful ally.
The impetus for the beginning of the collapse of the military Soviet Empire was the signing of the Budapest Treaty of 1991 by three countries - Poland, Hungary and East Germany. This document drew a line under the existence of the Warsaw Pact Organization.
The Warsaw Pact itself raises many questions. So, for example, what did the Soviet Union directly gain with its signing? IN Lately many historians are inclined to think that this was a well-thought-out political move by N. Khrushchev, who sought to create a certain joint organization to provide collective security. The Soviet leadership began to understand the fact that NATO was beginning to be threatened military power The USSR and its advantage on European territory.
However, if we talk about the superiority of the West that really existed at that time, it consisted only in methods of intimidation using nuclear weapons. As for conventional weapons and equipment, the undeniable advantage was on the side of the Soviet Union. Moreover, this, according to many experts, was the reason for the emergence of the North Atlantic Alliance.
America and its allies immediately after the end of the war began disarmament and mass dismissal of military personnel, but the USSR was in no hurry to do this. And Americans could feel safe only until 1957, when the first Soviet artificial satellite and thus there was a threat of withdrawal nuclear weapons into orbit.
Be that as it may, the Warsaw Pact ceased to exist, however, just like the USSR. But the unspoken confrontation between the United States and Russia still persists.